Systems and methods for immersive interaction with virtual objects

ABSTRACT

A system to present the user a 3-D virtual environment as well as non-visual sensory feedback for interactions that user makes with virtual objects in that environment is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a system comprising a depth camera that captures user position and movement, a three-dimensional (3-D) display device that presents the user a virtual environment in 3-D and a haptic feedback device provides haptic feedback to the user as he interacts with a virtual object in the virtual environment. As the user moves through his physical space, he is captured by the depth camera. Data from that depth camera is parsed to correlate a user position with a position in the virtual environment. Where the user position or movement causes the user to touch the virtual object, that is determined, and corresponding haptic feedback is provided to the user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.12/834,723 filed on Jul. 12, 2010, which is a continuation of patentapplication Ser. No. 12/474,514 filed on May 29, 2009, titled “Systemsand Methods for Immersive Interaction with Virtual Objects,” the entirecontents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many computing applications endeavor to provide immersive experiencesfor users. This may include presenting a virtual environment to theuser, where virtual objects within that virtual environment can bemanipulated by the user. However, the user has little sensory connectionto those virtual environments beyond what is presented visually, andthis hinders a truly immersive experience.

SUMMARY

It would therefore be an improvement to provide a user with a moreimmersive experience. In an exemplary embodiment, a system comprising adepth camera that captures user position and movement, athree-dimensional (3-D) display device that presents the user a virtualenvironment in 3-D and a haptic feedback device—technology thatinterfaces to the user via the sense of touch by applying, for instance,forces, vibrations and/or motions to the user—provides haptic feedbackto the user as he interacts with a virtual object in the virtualenvironment. As the user moves through his physical space, he iscaptured by the depth camera. Data from that depth camera is parsed tocorrelate a user position with a position in the virtual environment.Where the user position or movement causes the user to touch the virtualobject, that is determined, and corresponding haptic feedback isprovided to the user.

For example, haptic feedback may be provided through use of a glovecoupled to the user's arm, the glove containing a plurality ofelectrodes that may provide a mild electrical stimulation to the user.When the user makes a movement in his physical environment thatcorresponds to grasping a virtual cylinder, the system may determinethat this has occurred, and provide haptic feedback to the palm andfingers of the user that provides a similar haptic experience for theuser as if he had grasped a physical cylinder in his physical space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The systems, methods, and computer readable media for gesture coaching,in accordance with this specification, are further described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example embodiment of a targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system with a user playing a game.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a capture device that may beused in a target recognition, analysis, and tracking system.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example embodiment of a computing environmentthat may be used to interpret one or more gestures in a targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system.

FIG. 3B illustrates another example embodiment of a computingenvironment that may be used to interpret one or more gestures in atarget recognition, analysis, and tracking system.

FIG. 4A illustrates a skeletal mapping of a user that has been generatedfrom the target recognition, analysis, and tracking system of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a user receiving non-visual sensory feedbackwhile interacting with a 3-D environment and being captured by a targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system.

FIG. 6A illustrates a user receiving haptic feedback from an ultrasonichaptic feedback system.

FIG. 6B illustrates a user receiving haptic feedback from anair-burst-based haptic feedback system.

FIG. 7 illustrates two users interacting across a communicationsnetwork, each receiving complimentary haptic feedback.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram illustrating another embodiment ofthe system 10 of FIG. 2, in which haptic feedback device 804 has beenadded to support the haptic feedback functionality described above.

FIG. 9 illustrates exemplary operational procedures for immersivevirtual object interaction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

As will be described herein, a user may interact with a virtualenvironment of an application executing on a computing environment suchas a game console, a computer, or the like by performing one or moregestures or movements. Disclosed herein are systems and methods forproviding non-visual sensory feedback to the user. For example, thecomputing environment may provide the user with haptic feedback wherehis body position corresponds to touching a virtual object in thevirtual environment.

To generate models representative of a target or object in a physicalspace, a capture device can capture a depth image of the physical spaceand scan targets in the scene. A target may include humans or otherobjects in the scene. In one embodiment, the capture device maydetermine whether one or more targets in the scene corresponds to ahuman target such as the user. To determine whether a target in thescene corresponds to a human target, each of the targets may be floodfilled and compared to a pattern of a human body model. A targetidentified as a human may be scanned to generate a skeletal modelassociated therewith. The skeletal model may then be provided to acomputing environment for tracking the skeletal model and rendering anavatar associated with the skeletal model. The computing environment maymap the motions of the user in the physical space to a visualrepresentation on a display device, such as an avatar. The computingenvironment may determine which controls to perform in an applicationexecuting on the computer environment based on, for example, gestures ofthe user that have been recognized and mapped to the skeletal model.

Some of the functional units described in this specification have beenlabeled as components, in order to more particularly emphasize theirimplementation independence. For example, a component may be implementedas a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays,off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or otherdiscrete components. A component may also be implemented in programmablehardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmablearray logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

Components may also be implemented in software for execution by varioustypes of processors. An identified component of executable code may, forinstance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computerinstructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object,procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identifiedcomponent need not be physically located together, but may comprisedisparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joinedlogically together, comprise the component and achieve the statedpurpose for the component.

The system, methods, and components of providing non-visual sensoryfeedback as described herein may be embodied in target recognition,analysis, and tracking system implemented in a multi-media console, suchas a gaming console, or in any other computing device in which it isdesired to provide visual assistance, by way of example and without anyintended limitation, satellite receivers, set top boxes, arcade games,personal computers (PCs), portable telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), and other hand-held devices.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example embodiment of a configuration of atarget recognition, analysis, and tracking system 10 in which thesystem, methods, and components described herein for providingnon-visual sensory feedback may be embodied. In the example shown, auser 18 is playing a boxing game. In an example embodiment, the targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system 10 may be used to recognize,analyze, and/or track a human target such as the user 18.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the target recognition, analysis, and trackingsystem 10 may include a computing environment 12. The computingenvironment 12 may be a computer, a gaming system or console, or thelike. According to an example embodiment, the computing environment 12may include hardware components and/or software components such that thecomputing environment 12 may be used to execute applications such asgaming applications, non-gaming applications, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the target recognition, analysis, and trackingsystem 10 may further include a capture device 20. The capture device 20may be, for example, a camera that may be used to visually monitor oneor more users, such as the user 18, such that gestures performed by theone or more users may be captured, analyzed, and tracked to perform oneor more controls or actions within an application, as will be describedin more detail below.

According to one embodiment, the target recognition, analysis, andtracking system 10 may be connected to an audiovisual device 16 such asa television, a monitor, a high-definition television (HDTV), or thelike that may provide game or application visuals and/or audio to a usersuch as the user 18. For example, the computing environment 12 mayinclude a video adapter such as a graphics card and/or an audio adaptersuch as a sound card that may provide audiovisual signals associatedwith the game application, non-game application, or the like. Theaudiovisual device 16 may receive the audiovisual signals from thecomputing environment 12 and may then output the game or applicationvisuals and/or audio associated with the audiovisual signals to the user18. According to one embodiment, the audiovisual device 16 may beconnected to the computing environment 12 via, for example, an S-Videocable, a coaxial cable, an HDMI cable, a DVI cable, a VGA cable, or thelike.

The audiovisual device may comprise a three-dimensional (3-D) displaydevice. Such a 3-D display device may use any of a variety of techniquesto produce a 3-D image, such anaglyph images, the eclipse method,polarization filters, lenticular or barrier screens, autostereoscopicmethods, and stereoscopic viewing devices. Some of these techniques,such as using anaglyph images, are effected through the user wearingspecial glasses. Other of these techniques, like the eclipse method, maybe implemented without requiring of the user to wear glasses. In someembodiments, where techniques are used that rely on alternating imageson the display device to produce a 3-D effect, the display device mayrefresh at a higher rate than the conventional 50 or 60 Hz, such as 100or 120 Hz.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the target recognition, analysis, andtracking system 10 may be used to recognize, analyze, and/or track ahuman target such as the user 18. For example, the user 18 may betracked using the capture device 20 such that the movements of user 18may be interpreted as controls that may be used to affect theapplication being executed by computer environment 12. Thus, accordingto one embodiment, the user 18 may move his or her body to control theapplication.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in an example embodiment, the applicationexecuting on the computing environment 12 may be a boxing game that theuser 18 may be playing. For example, the computing environment 12 mayuse the audiovisual device 16 to provide a visual representation of aboxing opponent 22 to the user 18. The computing environment 12 may alsouse the audiovisual device 16 to provide a visual representation of aplayer avatar 24 that the user 18 may control with his or her movements.For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the user 18 may throw a punch inphysical space to cause the player avatar 24 to throw a punch in gamespace. Thus, according to an example embodiment, the computerenvironment 12 and the capture device 20 of the target recognition,analysis, and tracking system 10 may be used to recognize and analyzethe punch of the user 18 in physical space such that the punch may beinterpreted as a game control of the player avatar 24 in game space.

Other movements by the user 18 may also be interpreted as other controlsor actions, such as controls to bob, weave, shuffle, block, jab, orthrow a variety of different power punches. Furthermore, some movementsmay be interpreted as controls that may correspond to actions other thancontrolling the player avatar 24. For example, the player may usemovements to end, pause, or save a game, select a level, view highscores, communicate with a friend, etc.

In example embodiments, the human target such as the user 18 may have anobject. In such embodiments, the user of an electronic game may beholding the object such that the motions of the player and the objectmay be used to adjust and/or control parameters of the game. Forexample, the motion of a player holding a racket may be tracked andutilized for controlling an on-screen racket in an electronic sportsgame. In another example embodiment, the motion of a player holding anobject may be tracked and utilized for controlling an on-screen weaponin an electronic combat game.

According to other example embodiments, the target recognition,analysis, and tracking system 10 may further be used to interpret targetmovements as operating system and/or application controls that areoutside the realm of games. For example, virtually any controllableaspect of an operating system and/or application may be controlled bymovements of the target such as the user 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example embodiment of the capture device 20 thatmay be used in the target recognition, analysis, and tracking system 10.According to an example embodiment, the capture device 20 may beconfigured to capture video with depth information including a depthimage that may include depth values via any suitable techniqueincluding, for example, time-of-flight, structured light, stereo image,or the like. According to one embodiment, the capture device 20 mayorganize the calculated depth information into “Z layers,” or layersthat may be perpendicular to a Z axis extending from the depth cameraalong its line of sight.

As shown in FIG. 2, the capture device 20 may include an image cameracomponent 22. According to an example embodiment, the image cameracomponent 22 may be a depth camera that may capture the depth image of ascene. The depth image may include a two-dimensional (2-D) pixel area ofthe captured scene where each pixel in the 2-D pixel area may representa length in, for example, centimeters, millimeters, or the like of anobject in the captured scene from the camera.

As shown in FIG. 2, according to an example embodiment, the image cameracomponent 22 may include an IR light component 24, a three-dimensional(3-D) camera 26, and an RGB camera 28 that may be used to capture thedepth image of a scene. For example, in time-of-flight analysis, the IRlight component 24 of the capture device 20 may emit an infrared lightonto the scene and may then use sensors (not shown) to detect thebackscattered light from the surface of one or more targets and objectsin the scene using, for example, the 3-D camera 26 and/or the RGB camera28. In some embodiments, pulsed infrared light may be used such that thetime between an outgoing light pulse and a corresponding incoming lightpulse may be measured and used to determine a physical distance from thecapture device 20 to a particular location on the targets or objects inthe scene. Additionally, in other example embodiments, the phase of theoutgoing light wave may be compared to the phase of the incoming lightwave to determine a phase shift. The phase shift may then be used todetermine a physical distance from the capture device to a particularlocation on the targets or objects.

According to another example embodiment, time-of-flight analysis may beused to indirectly determine a physical distance from the capture device20 to a particular location on the targets or objects by analyzing theintensity of the reflected beam of light over time via varioustechniques including, for example, shuttered light pulse imaging.

In another example embodiment, the capture device 20 may use astructured light to capture depth information. In such an analysis,patterned light (i.e., light displayed as a known pattern such as gridpattern or a stripe pattern) may be projected onto the scene via, forexample, the IR light component 24. Upon striking the surface of one ormore targets or objects in the scene, the pattern may become deformed inresponse. Such a deformation of the pattern may be captured by, forexample, the 3-D camera 26 and/or the RGB camera 28 and may then beanalyzed to determine a physical distance from the capture device to aparticular location on the targets or objects.

According to another embodiment, the capture device 20 may include twoor more physically separated cameras that may view a scene fromdifferent angles, to obtain visual stereo data that may be resolved togenerate depth information

The capture device 20 may further include a microphone 30. Themicrophone 30 may include a transducer or sensor that may receive andconvert sound into an electrical signal. According to one embodiment,the microphone 30 may be used to reduce feedback between the capturedevice 20 and the computing environment 12 in the target recognition,analysis, and tracking system 10. Additionally, the microphone 30 may beused to receive audio signals that may also be provided by the user tocontrol applications such as game applications, non-game applications,or the like that may be executed by the computing environment 12.

In an example embodiment, the capture device 20 may further include aprocessor 32 that may be in operative communication with the imagecamera component 22. The processor 32 may include a standardizedprocessor, a specialized processor, a microprocessor, or the like thatmay execute instructions that may include instructions for receiving thedepth image, determining whether a suitable target may be included inthe depth image, converting the suitable target into a skeletalrepresentation or model of the target, or any other suitableinstruction.

The capture device 20 may further include a memory component 34 that maystore the instructions that may be executed by the processor 32, imagesor frames of images captured by the 3-D camera or RGB camera, or anyother suitable information, images, or the like. According to an exampleembodiment, the memory component 34 may include random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), cache, Flash memory, a hard disk, or anyother suitable storage component. As shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment,the memory component 34 may be a separate component in communicationwith the image capture component 22 and the processor 32. According toanother embodiment, the memory component 34 may be integrated into theprocessor 32 and/or the image capture component 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the capture device 20 may be in communication withthe computing environment 12 via a communication link 36. Thecommunication link 36 may be a wired connection including, for example,a USB connection, a Firewire connection, an Ethernet cable connection,or the like and/or a wireless connection such as a wireless 802.11b, g,a, or n connection. According to one embodiment, the computingenvironment 12 may provide a clock to the capture device 20 that may beused to determine when to capture, for example, a scene via thecommunication link 36.

Additionally, the capture device 20 may provide the depth informationand images captured by, for example, the 3-D camera 26 and/or the RGBcamera 28, and a skeletal model that may be generated by the capturedevice 20 to the computing environment 12 via the communication link 36.The computing environment 12 may then use the skeletal model, depthinformation, and captured images to, for example, recognize usergestures and in response control an application such as a game or wordprocessor. For example, as shown, in FIG. 2, the computing environment12 may include a gestures recognizer engine 190. The gestures recognizerengine 190 may include a collection of gesture filters, each comprisinginformation concerning a gesture that may be performed by the skeletalmodel (as the user moves). The data captured by the cameras 26, 28 anddevice 20 in the form of the skeletal model and movements associatedwith it may be compared to the gesture filters in the gesture recognizerengine 190 to identify when a user (as represented by the skeletalmodel) has performed one or more gestures. Those gestures may beassociated with various controls of an application. Thus, the computingenvironment 12 may use the gesture recognizer engine 190 to interpretmovements of the skeletal model and to control an application based onthe movements.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example embodiment of a computing environmentthat may be used to interpret one or more gestures in a targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system. The computing environmentsuch as the computing environment 12 described above with respect toFIGS. 1A-2 may be a multimedia console 100, such as a gaming console. Asshown in FIG. 3A, the multimedia console 100 has a central processingunit (CPU) 101 having a level 1 cache 102, a level 2 cache 104, and aflash ROM (Read Only Memory) 106. The level 1 cache 102 and a level 2cache 104 temporarily store data and hence reduce the number of memoryaccess cycles, thereby improving processing speed and throughput. TheCPU 101 may be provided having more than one core, and thus, additionallevel 1 and level 2 caches 102 and 104. The flash ROM 106 may storeexecutable code that is loaded during an initial phase of a boot processwhen the multimedia console 100 is powered ON.

A graphics processing unit (GPU) 108 and a video encoder/video codec(coder/decoder) 114 form a video processing pipeline for high speed andhigh resolution graphics processing. Data is carried from the graphicsprocessing unit 108 to the video encoder/video codec 114 via a bus. Thevideo processing pipeline outputs data to an A/V (audio/video) port 140for transmission to a television or other display. A memory controller110 is connected to the GPU 108 to facilitate processor access tovarious types of memory 112, such as, but not limited to, a RAM (RandomAccess Memory).

The multimedia console 100 includes an I/O controller 120, a systemmanagement controller 122, an audio processing unit 123, a networkinterface controller 124, a first USB host controller 126, a second USBcontroller 128 and a front panel I/O subassembly 130 that are preferablyimplemented on a module 118. The USB controllers 126 and 128 serve ashosts for peripheral controllers 142(1)-142(2), a wireless adapter 148,and an external memory device 146 (e.g., flash memory, external CD/DVDROM drive, removable media, etc.). The network interface 124 and/orwireless adapter 148 provide access to a network (e.g., the Internet,home network, etc.) and may be any of a wide variety of various wired orwireless adapter components including an Ethernet card, a modem, aBluetooth module, a cable modem, and the like.

System memory 143 is provided to store application data that is loadedduring the boot process. A media drive 144 is provided and may comprisea DVD/CD drive, hard drive, or other removable media drive, etc. Themedia drive 144 may be internal or external to the multimedia console100. Application data may be accessed via the media drive 144 forexecution, playback, etc. by the multimedia console 100. The media drive144 is connected to the I/O controller 120 via a bus, such as a SerialATA bus or other high speed connection (e.g., IEEE 1394).

The system management controller 122 provides a variety of servicefunctions related to assuring availability of the multimedia console100. The audio processing unit 123 and an audio codec 132 form acorresponding audio processing pipeline with high fidelity and stereoprocessing. Audio data is carried between the audio processing unit 123and the audio codec 132 via a communication link. The audio processingpipeline outputs data to the A/V port 140 for reproduction by anexternal audio player or device having audio capabilities.

The front panel I/O subassembly 130 supports the functionality of thepower button 150 and the eject button 152, as well as any LEDs (lightemitting diodes) or other indicators exposed on the outer surface of themultimedia console 100. A system power supply module 136 provides powerto the components of the multimedia console 100. A fan 138 cools thecircuitry within the multimedia console 100.

The CPU 101, GPU 108, memory controller 110, and various othercomponents within the multimedia console 100 are interconnected via oneor more buses, including serial and parallel buses, a memory bus, aperipheral bus, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. By way of example, such architectures can include aPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus, PCI-Express bus, etc.

When the multimedia console 100 is powered ON, application data may beloaded from the system memory 143 into memory 112 and/or caches 102, 104and executed on the CPU 101. The application may present a graphicaluser interface that provides a consistent user experience whennavigating to different media types available on the multimedia console100. In operation, applications and/or other media contained within themedia drive 144 may be launched or played from the media drive 144 toprovide additional functionalities to the multimedia console 100.

The multimedia console 100 may be operated as a standalone system bysimply connecting the system to a television or other display. In thisstandalone mode, the multimedia console 100 allows one or more users tointeract with the system, watch movies, or listen to music. However,with the integration of broadband connectivity made available throughthe network interface 124 or the wireless adapter 148, the multimediaconsole 100 may further be operated as a participant in a larger networkcommunity.

When the multimedia console 100 is powered ON, a set amount of hardwareresources are reserved for system use by the multimedia consoleoperating system. These resources may include a reservation of memory(e.g., 16 MB), CPU and GPU cycles (e.g., 5%), networking bandwidth(e.g., 8 kbs), etc. Because these resources are reserved at system boottime, the reserved resources do not exist from the application's view.

In particular, the memory reservation preferably is large enough tocontain the launch kernel, concurrent system applications and drivers.The CPU reservation is preferably constant such that if the reserved CPUusage is not used by the system applications, an idle thread willconsume any unused cycles.

With regard to the GPU reservation, lightweight messages generated bythe system applications (e.g., popups) are displayed by using a GPUinterrupt to schedule code to render popup into an overlay. The amountof memory required for an overlay depends on the overlay area size andthe overlay preferably scales with screen resolution. Where a full userinterface is used by the concurrent system application, it is preferableto use a resolution independent of application resolution. A scaler maybe used to set this resolution such that the need to change frequencyand cause a TV resynch is eliminated.

After the multimedia console 100 boots and system resources arereserved, concurrent system applications execute to provide systemfunctionalities. The system functionalities are encapsulated in a set ofsystem applications that execute within the reserved system resourcesdescribed above. The operating system kernel identifies threads that aresystem application threads versus gaming application threads. The systemapplications are preferably scheduled to run on the CPU 101 atpredetermined times and intervals in order to provide a consistentsystem resource view to the application. The scheduling is to minimizecache disruption for the gaming application running on the console.

When a concurrent system application requires audio, audio processing isscheduled asynchronously to the gaming application due to timesensitivity. A multimedia console application manager (described below)controls the gaming application audio level (e.g., mute, attenuate) whensystem applications are active.

Input devices (e.g., controllers 142(1) and 142(2)) are shared by gamingapplications and system applications. The input devices are not reservedresources, but are to be switched between system applications and thegaming application such that each will have a focus of the device. Theapplication manager preferably controls the switching of input stream,without knowledge the gaming application's knowledge and a drivermaintains state information regarding focus switches. The cameras 26, 28and capture device 20 may define additional input devices for theconsole 100.

FIG. 3B illustrates another example embodiment of a computingenvironment 220 that may be the computing environment 12 shown in FIGS.1A-2 used to interpret one or more gestures in a target recognition,analysis, and tracking system. The computing system environment 220 isonly one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intendedto suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of thepresently disclosed subject matter. Neither should the computingenvironment 220 be interpreted as having any dependency or requirementrelating to any one or combination of components illustrated in theexemplary operating environment 220. In some embodiments the variousdepicted computing elements may include circuitry configured toinstantiate specific aspects of the present disclosure. For example, theterm circuitry used in the disclosure can include specialized hardwarecomponents configured to perform function(s) by firmware or switches. Inother examples embodiments the term circuitry can include a generalpurpose processing unit, memory, etc., configured by softwareinstructions that embody logic operable to perform function(s). Inexample embodiments where circuitry includes a combination of hardwareand software, an implementer may write source code embodying logic andthe source code can be compiled into machine readable code that can beprocessed by the general purpose processing unit. Since the state of theart has evolved to a point where there is little difference betweenhardware, software, or a combination of hardware/software, the selectionof hardware versus software to effectuate specific functions is a designchoice left to an implementer. More specifically, a software process canbe transformed into an equivalent hardware structure, and a hardwarestructure can itself be transformed into an equivalent software process.Thus, the selection of a hardware implementation versus a softwareimplementation is one of design choice and left to the implementer.

In FIG. 3B, the computing environment 220 comprises a computer 241,which typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computerreadable media can be any available media that can be accessed bycomputer 241 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removableand non-removable media. The system memory 222 includes computer storagemedia in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as readonly memory (ROM) 223 and random access memory (RAM) 260. A basicinput/output system 224 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within computer 241, such asduring start-up, is typically stored in ROM 223. RAM 260 typicallycontains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible toand/or presently being operated on by processing unit 259. By way ofexample, and not limitation, FIG. 3B illustrates operating system 225,application programs 226, other program modules 227, and program data228.

The computer 241 may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 3B illustrates a hard disk drive 238 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 239that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 254,and an optical disk drive 240 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 253 such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include,but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards,digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solidstate ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 238 is typically connectedto the system bus 221 through a non-removable memory interface such asinterface 234, and magnetic disk drive 239 and optical disk drive 240are typically connected to the system bus 221 by a removable memoryinterface, such as interface 235.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 3B, provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer 241. In FIG. 3B, for example, hard disk drive 238 isillustrated as storing operating system 258, application programs 257,other program modules 256, and program data 255. Note that thesecomponents can either be the same as or different from operating system225, application programs 226, other program modules 227, and programdata 228. Operating system 258, application programs 257, other programmodules 256, and program data 255 are given different numbers here toillustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user mayenter commands and information into the computer 241 through inputdevices such as a keyboard 251 and pointing device 252, commonlyreferred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (notshown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish,scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connectedto the processing unit 259 through a user input interface 236 that iscoupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface andbus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serialbus (USB). The cameras 26, 28 and capture device 20 may defineadditional input devices for the console 100. A monitor 242 or othertype of display device is also connected to the system bus 221 via aninterface, such as a video interface 232. In addition to the monitor,computers may also include other peripheral output devices such asspeakers 244 and printer 243, which may be connected through an outputperipheral interface 233.

The computer 241 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer246. The remote computer 246 may be a personal computer, a server, arouter, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, andtypically includes many or all of the elements described above relativeto the computer 241, although only a memory storage device 247 has beenillustrated in FIG. 3B. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 3Binclude a local area network (LAN) 245 and a wide area network (WAN)249, but may also include other networks. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 241 is connectedto the LAN 245 through a network interface or adapter 237. When used ina WAN networking environment, the computer 241 typically includes amodem 250 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN249, such as the Internet. The modem 250, which may be internal orexternal, may be connected to the system bus 221 via the user inputinterface 236, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 241, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. Byway of example, and not limitation, FIG. 3B illustrates remoteapplication programs 248 as residing on memory device 247. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers may beused.

FIG. 4A depicts an example skeletal mapping of a user that may begenerated from the capture device 20. In this embodiment, a variety ofjoints and bones are identified: each hand 302, each forearm 304, eachelbow 306, each bicep 308, each shoulder 310, each hip 312, each thigh314, each knee 316, each foreleg 318, each foot 320, the head 322, thetorso 324, the top 326 and bottom 328 of the spine, and the waist 330.Where more points are tracked, additional features may be identified,such as the bones and joints of the fingers or toes, or individualfeatures of the face, such as the nose and eyes.

Through moving his body, a user may create gestures. A gesture comprisesa motion or pose by a user that may be captured as image data and parsedfor meaning A gesture may be dynamic, comprising a motion, such asmimicking throwing a ball. A gesture may be a static pose, such asholding one's crossed forearms 304 in front of his torso 324. A gesturemay also incorporate props, such as by swinging a mock sword. A gesturemay comprise more than one body part, such as clapping the hands 302together, or a subtler motion, such as pursing one's lips.

Gestures may be used for input in a general computing context. Forinstance, various motions of the hands 302 or other body parts maycorrespond to common system wide tasks such as navigate up or down in ahierarchical list, open a file, close a file, and save a file. Gesturesmay also be used in a video-game-specific context, depending on thegame. For instance, with a driving game, various motions of the hands302 and feet 320 may correspond to steering a vehicle in a direction,shifting gears, accelerating, and breaking

A user may generate a gesture that corresponds to walking or running, bywalking or running in place himself. The user may alternately lift anddrop each leg 312-320 to mimic walking without moving. The system mayparse this gesture by analyzing each hip 312 and each thigh 314. A stepmay be recognized when one hip-thigh angle (as measured relative to avertical line, wherein a standing leg has a hip-thigh angle of 0°, and aforward horizontally extended leg has a hip-thigh angle of 90°) exceedsa certain threshold relative to the other thigh. A walk or run may berecognized after some number of consecutive steps by alternating legs.The time between the two most recent steps may be thought of as aperiod. After some number of periods where that threshold angle is notmet, the system may determine that the walk or running gesture hasceased.

In addition to gestures, this skeletal mapping of a user may be used toidentify a user's body orientation and/or position within a scene. Forexample, it may be determined that the user has raised both his handsover his head without assigning that body orientation to a gesture.Where the size of the user's bones grow over time in the scene, it maybe determined that the user's position has moved closer to the camera.From this information, the user's location and shape within a scene maybe determined, and in an embodiment, this may be used to associate theuser's physical position with a corresponding virtual environment withwhich the user is interacting.

User position, movement and gestures may be parsed through means otherthan by this above skeletal tracking, such as by producing a wire-framerepresentation of the user, or by generating a model of the user bygrouping together those contiguous parts of the image that share similardistance values, color values, or some combination thereof.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a user receiving non-visual sensory feedbackwhile interacting with a 3-D environment and being captured by a targetrecognition, analysis, and tracking system. In FIG. 5A, capture device520 captures user 518 and display device 516 produces a 3-D display foruser 518, including a virtual baton that is projected into the user'sphysical space. User 518 wears a haptic feedback device on his righthand. In an embodiment, this haptic feedback device comprises aplurality of electrodes, each electrode configured to provide hapticfeedback to a different part of the user's hand. In such an embodiment,each electrode may be thought of as a haptic feedback sub-device, inthat each electrode may independently provide haptic feedback to alocation of the user. Thus, as the number of haptic feedback sub-devicesis increased, the granularity of haptic feedback that may be provided toa user is refined.

The haptic feedback device may be wired to computing environment 12 orcommunicate with computing environment 12 through a wirelesscommunications protocol across a communications network. As the user isnot interacting with a virtual object, he is receiving no hapticfeedback.

In FIG. 5B, the user 518 has moved his hand to his left and gripped thearea in which the virtual baton is projected with his fingers. Capturedevice 520 captures the position of the user's hand. In an embodiment,this data is processed by computing environment 12 to determine where inphysical space the user's hand is located. A location may be a place onthe surface of the user that may receive haptic feedback. A user mayhave multiple locations—for instance one or more for each fingertip.Computing environment 12 may also have access to the projected positionin physical space of the virtual baton by virtue of having instructeddisplay device 516 to display the virtual baton at that location.Knowing these two locations, computing environment 12 may determinewhich locations of the user's hand are touching the baton and instructthe haptic feedback device to provide haptic feedback at thoselocations.

In an embodiment, this haptic feedback corresponds to the type ofinteraction between the user and the virtual device. In an embodiment,more haptic feedback is provided to user 518 when user 518 attempts togrip the virtual baton more tightly.

There exist other types of non-visual sensory feedback, and where thenon-visual sensory feedback comprises haptic feedback, other types ofhaptic feedback devices.

In an embodiment where the non-visual sensory feedback comprises hapticfeedback, the haptic feedback device may be one such as a devicephysically coupled to at least one location of the user, such as onethat uses a plurality of electrodes to provide haptic feedback throughelectrical stimulation, a device that emits at least one ultrasonic waveat least one location of the user, or a device that emits at least onestream of air at least one location of the user.

In an embodiment, the haptic feedback corresponds to Braille. In anembodiment where the user has at least six locations on at least onefinger, Braille may be simulated through the haptic feedback. Eachlocation may then correspond to a dot in the Braille pattern, and aBraille encoding of a character may be indicated to the user through theappropriate combination of haptic feedback at the locations. Similarsystems of haptic communication may be implemented using more or fewerlocations on the fingers or other parts of the user's body, depending onthe particulars of the specific form of communication.

In an embodiment, non-visual sensory feedback comprises olfactoryfeedback. This may be effectuated through a device that contains atleast one scent, and where it has a plurality of scents, it may combinethose available scents to produce more complex, compound scents. In anembodiment, this device emits the scent to the general area in which theuser is physically located. In an embodiment, this device directs thescent toward a particular placement of the user, such as by blowing itwith a fan. In an embodiment, the user has a device coupled to his nosefrom which the scent is emitted.

In an embodiment, the non-visual sensory feedback comprises audiofeedback. This may be effectuated through a plurality of speakersarranged in the user's physical location, such as a stereo, 2.1, 5.1,6.1, 7.1 or similar sound system. Some or all of these speakers may bedirectional, such that they send sound to a specific location and thatsound cannot be heard from other locations. The location may be theuser's ear or ears, such that the speaker system may identify the user'sears and then send directional sound to that user, so that another usercannot hear it. Where the specific location is the user, the directedaudio may be considered to be centered on the user or substantiallycentered on the user. Where a plurality of speakers is used, as perabove, this may be accomplished by appropriate adjustment of the soundfield of the plurality of speakers.

In an embodiment, at least one speaker may be rotated by the speakerhorizontally and/or vertically, such as by a mechanical device coupledto the speaker. Whereas a speaker in a fixed position may be capableonly of outputting audio in a single direction, such a rotate-ablespeaker may output audio in a variety of directions. Where the speakeris rotate-able, audio may be output over a narrower direction and stillreach the user. Where the audio is output in a sufficiently narrowdirection, and it is directed at the user, the user will be able tounderstand the audio (be it speech or other sound), while any additionalusers present will either not be able to hear the audio, or if they canhear that it is occurring, not be able to hear it sufficiently loud asto understand it. This may be thought of as a “whisper” in that a subsetof the present users can understand the audio.

FIG. 6A illustrates a user 18 receiving haptic feedback from anultrasonic haptic feedback system. In an embodiment, the ultrasonichaptic feedback system comprises a plurality of ultrasonic hapticfeedback emitters, each emitter configured to independently provide anamount and/or type of haptic feedback to a place in its neighboringphysical space. Through emitting appropriate ultrasonic waves at one ormore locations of the user, the user may receive haptic feedback fromthese waves that simulate interaction with a virtual object.

In an embodiment, this haptic feedback device is physically located in aposition known to computing environment 12. In an embodiment, image dataof the haptic feedback device is captured by capture device 12, and itsposition in physical space is determined from this image data. With thephysical position of the haptic feedback device and the physicalposition of the user known, computing device 12 may instruct the hapticfeedback device to emit haptic feedback from a haptic feedback emitterknown to correspond to the intended recipient location of the user. Asthe user moves through physical space, the location of the user that mayreceive haptic feedback may move as well relative to the haptic feedbackdevice. Thus, as the user moves, this movement may be determined bycapture device 12, and capture device 12 may instruct the hapticfeedback device to emit haptic feedback from different haptic feedbackemitters over time, as those haptic feedback emitters correspond to thelocation of the user as he moves.

FIG. 6B illustrates a user receiving haptic feedback from anair-power-based haptic feedback system. In an embodiment, theair-powered-based haptic feedback system comprises a plurality of airemitters, each emitter configured to independently provide a strengthand/or duration of haptic feedback to a place in its neighboringphysical space by emitting a burst of air to that space.

FIG. 7 illustrates two users interacting across a communicationsnetwork, each receiving complimentary haptic feedback.

User 718 and user 718′ may communicate through respective computingenvironments 12 across a communications network. Each user may furtherbe captured by a separate capture device 20, and receive visual inputfrom a separate display device 716. In an embodiment, a user has adisplayed avatar. In an embodiment, the virtual environment is projectedinto the user's physical space and he interacts with it directly, suchas by moving his body to the position where virtual objects in thevirtual environment are projected by display device 716.

In this example, users 718 and 718′ are participating in a boxing gameremotely. When users 718 and 718′ touch fists with each other, eachreceives haptic feedback corresponding to that touch. In an embodiment,the same amount of haptic feedback is provided to each user 718. In anembodiment, the amount of haptic feedback provided to each user 718 isscaled based on a characteristic of the user. For example, the amount ofhaptic feedback may be scaled based on the user's strength, ability orsome other characteristic. For example, in FIG. 7, if user 718'scharacter is significantly stronger than user 718′, user 718′ mayreceive a fraction of the haptic feedback received by user 718 when thetwo users interact with each other.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram illustrating another embodiment ofthe system 10 of FIG. 2, in which haptic feedback device 804 has beenadded to support the haptic feedback functionality described above. Theuser 18 is presented with one or more virtual objects on display device16. His motions are captured in images by capture device 20. In anembodiment, the image data is sent to computing environment 12 andreceived by skeletal mapper 802, which determines a skeletal mapping ofthe user. In other embodiments, all or part of this mapping is performedby capture device 20. In other embodiments, other identifyingtechniques, such as wire-frame mapping, are used instead of, or tocomplement, skeletal mapping.

That map information is then used to locate the user in his physicalspace and correlate that to a virtual space in which the virtual objectis presented 804. Where it is determined that an interaction occurs, anindication of this is sent to the haptic engine 806.

In an embodiment, haptic engine 806 also receives a characteristic orquality of the indication, such as which of one or more locations on theuser correspond to the interaction, and the nature of the interaction(e.g. light touch, hard touch). It may receive further characteristic orquality information such as a prediction of how long the touch may lastand how it may change over time.

In an embodiment, a characteristic of user interaction may be a strengthof the user, a velocity of the virtual object or the user, a mass of thevirtual object or the user, a material of the virtual object, or a taskbeing completed, and this may be used to determine a quality of hapticfeedback, such as the amount of force to generate. Where the user isvery strong, a higher level of haptic feedback may be provided to him sothat he subjectively feels that the feedback is strong. The velocity ofthe virtual object may change a quality of the user interaction. If theuser is catching a virtual ball thrown at a high of velocity, thecorresponding feedback may be stronger than if the user is catching thatvirtual ball thrown at a lower velocity. Likewise, a mass of the virtualobject may change a quality of the user interaction. Where the user iscatching that virtual ball, the corresponding feedback may be greaterwhen the ball has a greater mass than when it has a lesser mass.

The quality of user interaction may correspond to a material of thevirtual object. Where the virtual object is a ball and the virtualobject corresponds to a relatively inelastic material, such as metal,the feedback given to the user may be uniformly high from the moment atwhich the interaction takes place. Where the virtual ball corresponds toan elastic material, such as soft rubber, the feedback given to the usermay be slight at first, corresponding to the compression of the rubberupon initial contact, then increase to correspond the elastic responseof the material after it has reached its peak compression.

The quality of user interaction may correspond to a task beingcompleted. Haptic feedback may be beneficial to indicate to a user howhe has progressed through a task. In an embodiment, virtual objectscomprise files and folders on a virtual computer desktop, and the userwishes to put a particular file in the trash. When the user has draggedthat file to the trash and it has been placed there, the user mayreceive haptic feedback, such as a slight rumble or shock in the handthat he used to drag, to indicate that the task has been completed.

In an embodiment, determining that the location of the user correspondsto interacting with a virtual object includes determining that a futurelocation of the user is likely to correspond to interacting with thevirtual object, and providing feedback to the user at the futurelocation of the user. This form of predictive non-visual sensoryfeedback aids in reducing latency between when an event that gives riseto feedback occurs, and when the feedback is received by the user.

Interaction may be predicted by using past data to predict futurechanges in the tracked user data. Such data may include body partposition, velocity, acceleration or rotation, or any other data receivedfrom a capture device, such as movement of a physical object, an inputto a mouse or controller, or audio signals. In an embodiment, this pastdata comprises data where the user made an interaction occur. Where atsome point in making that interaction, the user had a given velocity,acceleration or rotation of one or more body parts, and the user has asimilar velocity, acceleration or rotation of that body part or bodyparts here as measured by the current data, it may be determined that itis highly probable that the user is going to cause the same or a similarinteraction, and appropriate feedback may be given to the user.

In an embodiment, a current position, velocity, acceleration or rotationof one or more body parts of the user is used to predict whether and/orwhat interaction the user may cause. For example, if the user isaccelerating his hand toward the front of his body, but has not yetbrought it far enough forward to come into contact with a virtualobject, it may be predicted that this acceleration of the hand willcontinue until the user has made this contact interaction, andappropriate feedback may be provided to correspond to the time when theuser does contact.

Feedback may be predicatively provided by using knowledge of humananatomy to predict future body part position, velocity, acceleration orrotation. For instance, a forearm is limited in the degree that it mayrotate, and most people cannot create an angle in excess of 180 degreesin their elbow. Additionally, where the right hand starts moving forwardat a rapid rate, it is likely that the right elbow and shoulder willsoon begin moving forward as well, since those body parts are allclosely physically connected. In an embodiment, these characteristics ofanatomy are used to predict that feedback should be provided.

That information is received by the haptic feedback engine 806, whichsends the haptic feedback device 804 indications on the characteristicsof haptic feedback to issue to the user (e.g. amount, type andlocation(s)).

For instance, where the haptic feedback device comprises a plurality ofhaptic feedback sub-devices, where each sub-device is able to sendhaptic feedback to the user, a subset of these sub-devices may beinstructed to provide haptic feedback to the user. These may correspondto those locations of the user that are to receive haptic feedback. Forinstance, where only the fingers of the user's hand (but not the entirehand) are to receive feedback, only those sub-devices that correspond tothe fingers may provide the feedback.

In an embodiment, haptic feedback device 808 is configured to determinecharacteristics of the user's interaction with it and send datacorresponding to that to haptic engine 806. For instance, where thehaptic feedback device is physically coupled to the user, the device 804may also be able to determine an amount of force exerted on it by theuser or a distance the user moves, and convey that to haptic feedbackengine 806. The engine 806 may use this information to alter the hapticfeedback provided to the user. For instance, where the user is able toexert a great force, the amount of haptic feedback may be increased.Likewise, if the system intends to output a great amount of hapticfeedback such that the user has difficulty moving, and the user is stillable to move freely, the force of the haptic feedback may be increased.

In an embodiment, haptic engine 806 communicates with application 810 todetermine the amount and/or type of haptic feedback to be given byhaptic feedback device 804. In an embodiment, haptic engine 806transmits information pertaining to the interaction to application 810.Application 810 determines the amount and/or type of haptic feedback toprovide to the user, and transmits that to haptic engine 806. Hapticengine 806 then sends haptic feedback device 810 indications that causeit to provide such haptic feedback to user 18. It should be appreciatedthat the components of this system architecture are arranged logically,and that one or more functions of a component may be implemented inanother component.

FIG. 9 illustrates exemplary operational procedures for immersivevirtual object interaction.

Operation 902 depicts receiving data captured by a capture device, thedata corresponding to a user location. The capture device may capture ascene that contains all of the user, such as from the floor to theceiling and to the wall on each side of a room at the distance in whichthe user is located. The capture device may also capture a scene thatcontains only part of the user, such as the user from the abdomen up ashe or she sits at a desk. The capture device may also capture an objectcontrolled by the user, such as a prop camera that the user holds in hisor her hand.

Operation 904 depicts determining that the location of the usercorresponds to interacting with a virtual object.

A location of the user may be the entire user, some sub-part of theuser, like his right hand, his right index finger, or the tip of hisright index finger. The granularity may be as fine as is a desired areato present feedback. For instance, in considering the user's hand, thehand may comprise a plurality of locations, each with a square area ofno more than several millimeters. Where a plurality of locations areused, a different amount of feedback may be given to each location tomore accurately simulate interaction with a virtual object.

For instance, where the virtual object is a baseball gripped by theuser, more significant haptic feedback may be given to those userlocations where the seams of the virtual baseball would dig into theuser's skin, less significant feedback may be given to those userlocations that more lightly touch the smooth surface of the baseball,and no feedback may be given to those user locations that do not touchthe baseball.

In an embodiment where the virtual object is displayed in 3-D by a 3-Ddisplay device, the virtual object is displayed in the physical space ofthe user. In such an embodiment, a mapping may be maintained between alocation of the virtual object and its corresponding location inphysical space. It may then be determined that the location of the usercorresponds to interacting with a virtual object when the location ofthe user touches or intersects the physical location associated with thevirtual object.

In an embodiment, the location of the user corresponds to arepresentation on a display device and the virtual object is displayedon the display device. The user may be thought of as having an avatardisplayed on the display device, or other representation on that devicedirectly controlled by him, such as a baseball bat or a gun. In such anembodiment, a map of the virtual environment in which both the virtualobject and the user avatar or user-controlled object exist may bemaintained. It may then be determined that the location of the usercorresponds to interacting with a virtual object when the user avatar oruser-controlled object then touches or intersects with the virtualobject.

A user may interact with a virtual object in a variety of ways. He maytouch it, push it, pull it, grab it, lift it, throw it, spin it, dropit, or perform any one of a number of actions to it that correspond towhat how the user may interact with a physical version of that virtualobject.

Optional operation 906 depicts determining a characteristic of feedbackto provide to the location of the user based on at least one quality ofthe user interaction with the virtual object.

Operation 908 depicts providing non-visual sensory feedback to the user.

In an embodiment, the non-visual sensory feedback comprises one ofhaptic feedback, olfactory feedback and audio feedback as previouslydiscussed.

In an embodiment, an amount of non-visual sensory feedback is providedto the user. In an embodiment where non-visual sensory feedbackcomprises haptic feedback, an amount of haptic feedback provided to theuser corresponds to a strength of the user. A given amount of force mayfeel too slight to a strong user and too great to a weak user. Thus, itmay be preferable to determine the amount of haptic feedback to send tothe user based on the strength of the user. This may be determined usingknown or estimated values for one or more of a velocity at which theuser may move, the user's mass, and a force that the user exerts againsta haptic feedback device.

Optional operation 910 depicts displaying the virtual object to the uservia a three-dimensional (3-D) display. In an embodiment, the 3-D displaycomprises one of an active 3-D display and a passive 3-D display. Anactive 3-D display comprises use of additional moving technology beyondthe display by the user, such as a pair of glasses that alternatelyexposes and closes a shutter in front of each eye. A passive displaycomprises use of static technology, such as a pair of glasses with onered lens and one blue lens used to view a stereoscopic image. The 3-Ddisplay may further comprise a display that requires no glasses or othertechnology beyond the display to view the 3-D image, such as a 3-Ddisplay that produces a hologram.

CONCLUSION

While the present disclosure has been described in connection with thepreferred aspects, as illustrated in the various figures, it isunderstood that other similar aspects may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described aspects for performing the samefunction of the present disclosure without deviating there from.Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any singleaspect, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with theappended claims. For example, the various procedures described hereinmay be implemented with hardware or software, or a combination of both.Thus, the methods and apparatus of the disclosed embodiments, or certainaspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e.,instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes,CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium. Whenthe program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as acomputer, the machine becomes an apparatus configured for practicing thedisclosed embodiments. In addition to the specific implementationsexplicitly set forth herein, other aspects and implementations will beapparent from consideration of the specification disclosed herein. It isintended that the specification and illustrated implementations beconsidered as examples only.

1. A system for providing non-visual sensory feedback to a user interacting with a virtual object, comprising: a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor when the system is operational, the memory bearing processor-executable instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the system to at least: receive data captured by a capture device, the data reflecting a user location; predict, based on the data, that a user is likely to interact with the virtual object at a future time; compute, prior to the future time, a non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction; and provide the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the future time.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions, that when executed on the processor, cause the system to at least: indicate to a three-dimensional (3-D) display to display the virtual object to the user.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-visual sensory feedback comprises: haptic feedback or olfactory feedback.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the virtual object corresponds to a second user interacting with the user across a communications network, and the instructions that cause the system to at least compute, prior to the future time, the non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction further cause the system to at least: compute, prior to the future time, a non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction based on a haptic feedback received by the second user.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the haptic feedback comprises: haptic feedback produced by an ultrasonic wave, haptic feedback produced by a stream of air, or haptic feedback produced by a device coupled to the location of the user
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the system to at least provide the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the at the future time further cause the system to at least: provide the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the at a future location of the user at the future time, the future location of the user corresponding to a location of the user that is likely to interact with the virtual object at the future time .
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the system to at least: determine a characteristic of feedback to provide to the future user location based on at least one quality of the user's interaction with the virtual object.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the quality of user's interaction comprises: a strength of the user, a task being completed, a velocity of the virtual object or the user, a mass of the virtual object or the user, or a material of the virtual object.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein instructions that cause the system to at least provide the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the future user location at the future time further cause the system to at least: direct audio from an audio speaker substantially centered on the user.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein a second user is present in a scene of the first user, and the instructions that cause the system to at least direct audio from an audio speaker substantially centered on the user further cause the system to at least direct audio to the user such that it is understandable exclusively to the user.
 11. A method for providing non-visual sensory feedback to a user interacting with a virtual object, comprising: receiving data captured by a capture device, the data reflecting a user location; predicting, based on the data, that a user is likely to interact with the virtual object at a future time; computing, prior to the future time, a non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction; and providing the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the future user location at the future time.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: displaying the virtual object to the user via a three-dimensional (3-D) display, wherein the 3-D display is one from a set, the set comprising: an active 3-D display and a passive 3-D display.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the non-visual sensory feedback is one from a set, the set comprising: haptic feedback, and olfactory feedback.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein an amount of the haptic feedback corresponds to a strength of the user.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein a type of the haptic feedback comprises: a velocity of the virtual object or the user, a mass of the virtual object or the user, or a material of the virtual object.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the haptic feedback corresponds to Braille.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback corresponds to a task being completed.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the user corresponds to a representation on a display device and the virtual object is displayed on the display device.
 19. A computer-readable storage medium excluding signals bearing computer-readable instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising: displaying a virtual object to the user via a three-dimensional (3-D) display; receiving data captured by a capture device, the data reflecting a user location; predicting, based on the data, that a user is likely to interact with the virtual object at a future time; computing, prior to the future time, a non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction; and providing the computed non-visual sensory feedback to the user at the future user location at the future time.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the virtual object corresponds to a second user interacting with the user across a communications network, and wherein computing, prior to the future time, the non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction comprises: computing, prior to the future time, a non-visual sensory feedback for the predicted future interaction based on a haptic feedback received by the second user. 